Sir John’s gift toNew Zealand

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About

Sir John Logan Campbell gifted Cornwall Park to New Zealand in 1901. His wish was that the park be free for every New Zealander to enjoy, forever.

Today, the Cornwall Park Trust Board, who manages and operates Cornwall Park, continues to honour his wish. Cornwall Park is for you - and all New Zealanders - to enjoy and experience nature in the heart of New Zealand’s biggest city, for free.

It is more than just a park - it is 425 acres/172 hectares of New Zealand’s living history, weaving together our heritage, ecology, agriculture, wildlife, mauri, and community within its lush-landscape.

The Future

100 Year Vision

To continue Sir John’s legacy of forward planning to protect the land for future generations, Cornwall Park has a long-term vision for its future. See this vision below, as told by the lead landscape architect, Thomas Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz.

The Founder

Sir John Logan Campbell

Sir John Logan Campbell is often referred to as the father of Auckland, a philanthropically-minded businessman, one of the first European settlers to Auckland, and founder of Cornwall Park. Along with his business partner William Brown, Sir John purchased Cornwall Park - then known as Mount Prospect Estate - in 1853, renaming it One Tree Hill. Due to his love for this land and its history, he gifted it to NZ by placing it into a trust that would establish and manage it as a park for future generations to enjoy. His gift went further - to ensure Cornwall Park would always be free for people to enjoy, he gifted the surrounding land as well to fund it. In 1901 this land became ‘Cornwall Park’ in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York who were visiting New Zealand at that time.

Our Neighbour

MaungakiekieOne Tree Hill

Cornwall Park wraps around Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill and One Tree Hill Domain. Although their beginnings were as the same land, today One Tree Hill Domain is Tāmaki Makaurau Collective land, and jointly governed by the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority (Maunga Authority) and Auckland Council. Cornwall Park is however private land, managed by a trust. The exception is the mighty obelisk - Auckland’s beacon at the top of Maungakiekie. It was Sir John’s wish for the obelisk to be installed to honour the Maori people of Tāmaki Makaurau, with Sir John himself now buried beneath. This area remains Cornwall Park land.

Visit Auckland Council’s website for more information on Maungakiekie and One Tree Hill Domain.

The People

Cornwall ParkTrust Board

Cornwall Park is managed by an experienced and passionate team and volunteer Board of Trustees - John McConnell, Adrienne Young-Cooper, John Clark, Keith Smith - who are committed to continuing Sir John’s legacy of creating a park that all New Zealanders can enjoy. They are responsible for the day-to-day, season-to-season management, care and planning of Cornwall Park, along with creating and implementing a vision for generations to come.